Summary
About the Role
Key Accountabilities
. Portfolio & Project Management Leadership
- Lead the ARD India portfolio of Analytical Project Leads (APLs) analytical development projects across early and late phase programs spanning across the modalities, viz., oral, xRNA, radio-ligand therapy, parenterals.
- Ensure robust project planning, tracking, and delivery in alignment with global timelines and regulatory requirements
- Drive proactive risk identification, mitigation strategies, and escalation mechanisms
- Implement standardized project management methodologies, tools, and best practices
. Governance & Decision Framework
- Establish and lead project governance structures (reviews, portfolio boards, dashboards)
- Provide data-driven insights to support strategic decision-making and prioritization
- Ensure transparency of project status, risks, milestones, and resource utilization
- Align governance processes with global ARD project management standards
Cross-functional Integration & Stakeholder Management
- Act as key interface between ARD scientific teams, TRD, global project leaders, and cross-functional partners
- Ensure alignment of analytical development activities with overall program and CMC strategies
- Facilitate effective communication across geographies (India, Switzerland, China)
- Strengthen collaboration with functions such as Regulatory, Quality, Supply, and External Partners
. Resource & Capacity Management
- Lead demand and capacity planning across ARD project portfolio
- Optimize resource allocation to ensure efficient utilization and delivery against priorities
- Partner with functional heads to balance portfolio demands and capability development
- Drive workforce planning aligned with future pipeline needs
. Operational Excellence & Digital Enablement
- Drive continuous improvement in project execution through lean principles and digital tools
- Implement data analytics and dashboarding to enhance performance visibility
- Standardize reporting, KPIs, and performance tracking across projects
- Promote automation and digitalization in project management processes
. People & Capability Leadership
- Lead, mentor, and develop a team of Analytical Project Leads
- Build strong project management capabilities within ARD India
- Foster a high-performance culture focused on accountability, collaboration, and innovation
- Support talent development, succession planning, and capability building
Minimum Requirements
- 15–18+ years in Analytical R&D / Pharmaceutical Development
- Proven experience in project / portfolio management within drug development
- Strong understanding of end-to-end development lifecycle (early to commercialization
- Experience in global, matrixed organizations with cross-functional leadership
- PhD / Master’s in Analytical Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or Chemistry
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Accessibility and accommodation
Novartis is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the recruitment process, or in order to perform the essential functions of a position, please send an e-mail to [email protected] and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Please include the job requisition number in your message.
